Reviewed by Thriveni C Mysore
Voyage to the Sun: A Children’s Version of the Tao te Ching
by Ruth Ann Oskolkoff (Author)
Joan Hunter Iovino (Illustrator)
CreateSpace
May 2015, Paperback, 48 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1512244397
When Sir Isaac Newton was working on his experiments at the University of Cambridge he was constantly interrupted by his cats scratching at the door. So he called the Cambridge carpenter to saw two holes in the door, one for the mother cat and one for her kittens. The smaller hole was never used because the little kittens preferred to follow their mother and pass through the one with the larger diameter. Such is Tao – Philosophy of Ease, tricky to comprehend.
In acknowledgments page, the poet says: “I looked around for a children’s version so I could read it to my son. Not finding one, I tasked myself with creating a version.” In his book, Tao Te Ching : A New English Version Stephen Mitchell’s verse 5 says: “the more you talk of it, the less you understand.”
Oskolkoff in her verse, ‘What does the word Tao mean?’ says:
When you become calm and unworried,
when you do not want so many things,
you will begin to understand.(4)
Stephen Mitchell’s verse 8 says:
The supreme good is like water,
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.
In dwelling, live close to the ground
In thinking, keep to the simple
In conflict, be fair and generous
In governing, don’t try to control
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself
And don’t compare or compete,
Everybody will respect you.
In ‘Water in a cup’ Oskolkoff tries to explain this in the language of a child:
Being good is to become like water in a cup
When you go to find a place to live,
live near the ground so you can garden.
Watch the plants. See what is happening outside.
Be close to the people on the street.
When you see fights, try to stand back and think
Try to figure out if one person is bullying and mean.
In school and home, try to figure out what you really like,
What kind of toys do you think are fun?
What kind of hobbies will you have?
Find time for what really interests you.
When you are yourself and realize you are just fine,
others will think that, too. (6)
This is how Oskolkoff tries to interpret the moral values of Tao to young minds. She talks of toys and hobbies, tries to make the child understand to figure out its likes and dislikes. When trained to appreciate details, teaching the benefits of silence and developing healthy eating habits in children may take them to new heights of calmness.
There is a teaching of Tao on success that asks one to have faith in the way things are and care for all things. The poet here explains it in “The star student”, To the question, Where is the Tao? the poet answers cleverly in verse:
Sometimes it is better just to relax:
do your schoolwork,
listen to your parents,
be nice to others,
and have fun with your friends. (12)
Oskolkoff explains to the children about the learning of imagination, knowing the real from unreal, way with the people, way to organize with such ease that it feels appealing to the children:
If you know of anyone
who is a really good person,
they will probably seem imperfect
when you talk to them.
The best drawings are simple.
Special things can seem plain.
The voyage to the sun is inside you. (“The voyage to the sun”, 28)
“The voyage to the sun” teaches the children about humility and to be careful about other people at such a very young age. This character of taking everything with a pinch of salt may help avoid heart-breaks and disappointments. Mental health is very important, and the educational institutions strive hard to improve the ability of children in this aspect. Oskolkoff addresses such a difficult topic in a simple yet appealing manner:
No need to fight with other kids;
there are other ways to deal with mean kids.
If there is no way, sometimes it is better
to go somewhere else and leave.
It is sad to make an enemy. (“The big cities”, 32)
In this poem the tao way of explaining the government is not so easy to capture in child’s imagination and the poet makes an effort to explain about unfortunate happenings that grip those governments that are not with the tao way, and hence fall to wars and lead her people to live through miserable sufferings.
In “Teachers”, Oskolkoff puts the same to the school teacher:
The great teacher is good to all the good children;
she is also good to all the bad children.
The great teacher wants to be good to everyone.
People just do not understand that, but it is true.
The great teacher is kind to everyone.
just as if she is everyone’s mother. (34)
Oskolkoff in her verse, “Three things” tries to explain this to children:
One, try to understand what is natural:
the birds, the trees, growing up, learning,
fun with your family and friends.
Two, try to be patient with everyone,
even when they are angry or yell.
Three, practice compassion with everyone,
be understanding and kind,
even if you are the only one who is. (38)
There are some cultural barriers to be overcome to understand Taoism, the moral way. It is difficult to grasp, the essense is too good to be true, and coming to practicing Tao it is difficult. With such hurdles, thinking about bringing these philosophical values to the level where a child could understand and accept it, is indeed a daunting task and one which Oskolkoff does with success. Voyage to the Sun has wonderful illustrations that helps the child to color its imagination.
Oskolkoff teaches children about school, home, work, play and also about a few responsibilities. Voyage to the sun helps foster curiosity and good thinking. It’s an impressive collection of verses with a positive and encouraging impact on a reader’s mind.
About the Reviewer: Thriveni C Mysore is a science teacher from Karnataka, India. She is locally acknowledged for her critical essays and articles on Philosophy and Education. Her books in Kannada on Philosophy and Science have won State awards. Being actively involved in Environmental Awareness Programs, she holds lectures and presentations for students. Amidst life’s complexities, she finds divine-solace in reading Nature poems.